I was drawn to transcendental meditation (TM) by the enigmatic David Lynch, the filmmaker and artist who, sadly, passed away a year ago. Lynch's passion for TM was undeniable, and he dedicated much of his later life to promoting it, even establishing a foundation to bring TM to schools and at-risk communities worldwide.
However, I must admit, I approached TM with a healthy dose of skepticism. The abbreviation 'TM' felt a bit cult-like, and I was prepared for this journey to expose the practice as a scam. But, oh boy, was I in for a surprise!
My first encounter with TM was at the London headquarters of the Maharishi Foundation, where I was initiated into the practice by my teacher, Pavel Khokhlachev. Pavel, a bald Russian man who looked more like a finance bro than a guru, led me through a confidential ceremony and gifted me with my personal mantra - a sacred Sanskrit sound that I was instructed never to share.
The mantra, they say, is a tool to silence the mental chatter, much like giving a puppy a chew toy to prevent it from destroying your furniture. In TM, unlike some other meditation practices, you're encouraged to be comfortable. Scratch that itch, cross your legs, and don't worry about thoughts - just return to the mantra innocently.
And so, I sat down on the chair, and my first meditation began. I can't say I experienced the same level of bliss that others have described, but something unexpected happened. It felt like I had fallen down a relaxing, familiar hole. I was wide awake, yet it was as if I had fallen asleep. Some call it 'falling awake.'
Over the course of four days of consecutive sessions, I refined my TM technique. While the initial transcendence was challenging to replicate, I was assured not to worry. 'Don't chase the transcendence,' Pavel advised, 'for then it's not innocent.'
But what sets TM apart from other meditation techniques? Bob Roth, CEO of the David Lynch Foundation and a TM teacher to celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld, and Sting, explains that there are three distinct meditation techniques with measurable effects on the brain. TM, or 'automatic self-transcending,' produces 'alpha coherence,' increasing and synchronizing brain activity. Scientists call it 'restful alertness,' and TM practitioners refer to it as 'pure consciousness.'
The benefits of TM are backed by research. Studies show that TM has strong positive effects on various conditions, including reducing blood pressure and cardiovascular risk, and even lowering the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death in heart disease patients. TM has also been found to significantly reduce anxiety and stress more effectively than other relaxation techniques, and long-term practitioners report increased cognitive clarity, memory, and emotional resilience.
After a month of practice, I found it easier to transcend, and the benefits were undeniable. I was more focused and energized after meditating, and my Fitbit even showed a drop in heart rate during meditation, similar to the lowest rate during my nightly sleep.
I was not prepared for these transformative effects. Previous meditation experiences had been helpful for anxiety and perspective, but TM was on another level. I relished the opportunity to meditate, unlike before when it felt like a chore. Inspired by Lynch's dedication, I've maintained a consistent practice, and the benefits keep getting better.
Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world's largest hedge funds, has been practicing TM since 1969 after hearing The Beatles talk about it on the news. He credits TM as the greatest force in his success and says it helped him and his family cope with the tragic death of his son in a car crash. Dalio encourages me to stick with it, promising that the benefits will only grow.
As for yogic flying, the crowning oddity of TM, I'm still a bit skeptical. I'm advised to maintain my regular meditations for at least eight months before advancing to the TM-Sidhi program, where each daily practice takes an hour and twenty minutes. While I find the flying aspect hard to take seriously, I'm curious about the experience. As Bob Roth says, 'Fifty years ago, meditation was seen as woo-woo, and now look at the research. Who knows what the research will say about yogic flying in fifty years?'
So, will I ever fly? Only time will tell. For now, I'm enjoying the journey and the benefits of TM, and I invite you to join me in exploring this fascinating practice. Who knows what transformative experiences await us?
